Confederate troops surround and capture Lexington, Missouri after a ten day siege

A 3500-man Union garrison under Colonel James A. Mulligan dug in at Lexington, Missouri to halt Confederate General Sterling Price's drive into Missouri. After completing their encirclement, Price's 12,000 troops attacked the Union fortifications, centered around the town's Masonic College, on September 18, 1861. After three days of fighting in which the defenders suffered a fatal shortage of drinking water and 25 Confederates and 39 Federals were killed, the garrison surrendered and Price, on his 52nd birthday, took possession of the town.  (By John Osborne)